Cardi B, Lil Durk, and Megan Thee Stallion lead the nominations for the 2021 BET Hip Hop Award with nine nods each. Drake is in second place with eight nods.
Tyler, the Creator and Metro Boomin are tied for third-most nominations with four nods each. They are followed by 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, J. Cole and Pooh Shiesty with three nods each, and Bia, Chris Brown, Doja Cat, Jay Z, Lil Nas X, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Roddy Ricch, Saweetie, Young Thug and Yung Bleu with two nods each.
Migos is the only group or duo with two more more nominations.
Cardi B, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Tyler, the Creator are the nominees for hip hop artist of the year.
Three-time nominee Pooh Shiesty and two-time nominee Yung Bleu are both in the running for best new hip hop artist, along with Blxst, Coi Leray, Don Toliver and Morray.
Five of the seven nominees for hip hop album of the year reached No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200. These chart-toppers are Moneybagg Yo’s A Gangsta’s Pain, Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost, DJ Khaled’s Khaled Khaled, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin’s Savage Mode II and J. Cole’s The Off-Season. The two other nominees, Migos’ Culture III and Megan Thee Stallion’s Good News, came close, reaching No. 2 on Billboard’s flagship album chart.
Cardi B and Lil Durk each have two contenders for song of the year. Cardi is nominated for “Up” and “WAP” (featuring Megan Thee Stallion). Lil Durk is nominated as a featured artist on Pooh Shiesty’s “Back in Blood” and Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later.”
“Our 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards nominees span generations and are a representation of the talented individuals who elevate hip hop culture in creative and diverse ways,” said Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming & music strategy for BET, in a statement.
Orlando will oversee the annual show, now in its 16th year. Jamal Noisette, BET’s VP specials, music programming & music strategy, will serve as co-executive producer. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, will serve as executive producer, along with two of his company’s top executives, Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.
Nominees across 17 categories were selected by a voting body of music industry insiders.
As previously announced, the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards will be taped at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Friday, Oct. 1 and will premiere on BET on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The show will simulcast internationally on BET Africa on Wednesday, October 6 AT 3 AM CAT.
Voting for DJ of the year and best hip hop platform is now open at VoteHipHopAwards.com.
Here’s the complete list of 2021 BET Hip Hop Award nominees:
Hip hop album of the year
A Gangsta’s Pain, Moneybagg Yo
Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator
Culture III, Migos
Good News, Megan Thee Stallion
Khaled Khaled, DJ Khaled
Savage Mode II, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
The Off-Season, J. Cole
Song of the year
“Back in Blood,” Produced by YC (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
“Late At Night,” Produced by Mustard (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Produced by G. Ry, Cardogotwings, Roget Chahayed & Yung Exclusive (Drake feat. Lil Durk)
“Up,” Produced by Yung DZA, Sean Island, DJ Swanqo (Cardi B)
“WAP,” Produced by Ayo & Keyz (Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
“Whole Lotta Money (Remix),” Produced By London Jae, Beatgodz, Tee Romano (Bia feat. Nicki Minaj)
Hip hop artist of the year
Cardi B
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Tyler, the Creator
Best hip hop video
Cardi B, “Up”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Saweetie feat. Doja Cat, “Best Friend”
Best new hip hop artist
Blxst
Coi Leray
Don Toliver
Morray
Pooh Shiesty
Yung Bleu
Best collaboration
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Feat. Drake, “Mr. Right Now”
Bia feat. Nicki Minaj, “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk, “Every Chance I Get”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk, “Back in Blood”
Best duo or group
21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Chris Brown & Young Thug
City Girls
Future & Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Best live performer
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
DaBaby
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion
Tyler, the Creator
Lyricist of the year
Benny the Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Nas
Best international flow
Ladipoe (Nigeria)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Xamã (Brazil)
Laylow (France)
Gazo (France)
Little Simz (UK)
Dave (UK)
Video director of the year
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
DJ of the year
Chase B
D Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Scheme
Kaytranada
Producer of the year
DJ Khaled
Hit-Boy
Metro Boomin
Mustard
The Alchemist
Tyler, the Creator
Hustler of the year
Cardi B
Drake
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Yung Bleu
Best hip hop platform
Complex
Genius
Hip Hop DX
Hot New Hiphop
The Breakfast Club
The Shade Room
Worldstar Hiphop
XXL
Sweet 16: best featured verse
Cardi B, “Type Shit” (Migos feat. Cardi B)
Drake, “Havin’ Our Way” (Migos feat. Drake)
Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like” (Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z)
Lil Durk, “Back in Blood” (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
Megan The Stallion, “On Me (Remix)” (Lil Baby feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Roddy Ricch, “Lemonade (Remix)” (Internet Money feat. Don Toliver & Roddy Ricch)
Impact track
Black Thought , “Thought Vs Everybody”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Lil Baby & Kirk Franklin, “We Win”
Meek Mill Feat. Lil Durk, “Pain Away”
Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like”
Rapsody, “12 Problems”
